Shade-Tex Rubbing Plates

Everyone from kids to professional artists will enjoy adding instant energy and drama to paper or clay projects with these fun textured rubbing plates. The intricate textured designs are molded right into the flexible and sturdy 8½" × 11" (22 cm × 28 cm) plastic plates.

Easily add detailed patterns to drawings, greeting cards, murals, or collages by placing the plate under the paper and rubbing. Or use them to emboss detailed designs onto clay projects. Simply impress a pattern by using a brayer, or applying pressure by hand.

Add even more texture by running the rubbing plate and a thin clay slab through a pasta machine. Start with the patterns on the sheets, and then create new ones by twisting and turning the plates to create cross hatching, half tones, and more.

Sheets are washable and sturdy enough to use in project after project. Each 6-sheet set contains many different designs.

I bought this to use in my art projects with my students. I was surprised at how much they love these things. I showed them how to use multiple textures to create layers and depth in their artwork. I couldn't be more happy with the results.

I have purchase and donated two sets of Shade-tex plates to an art program I attend. They are most frequently used in regular pottery classes (note:for moist clay sprinkle some corn starch down before using a rolling pin for a good impression). Students have also used with polymer clay. Both sides of the patterns can be used, depending what you want to high light. I plan on buying at least one more set.

The plates are flimsy and flexible yet the plastic is hard like it will crack if bent too far. It would be a complete surprise if they last a class period let alone the entire school year. They are difficult to determine correct side and if a student presses too hard, it is likely that the texture will completely disappear. I am glad I did not open all the packages, these will certainly go back. I was better off with the freebie scrap materials from the Architectural firm that was down sizing.

The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:

A total rip-off

Bottom LineNo, I would not recommend this to a friend

Merchant response: We are sorry to hear you did not have a satisfying experience with this product. Please know that if you are not completely satisfied with the quality of the merchandise you receive, you are entitled to a full replacement or refund. We ask that you contact our Customer Care Center at 800-723-2787 within 30 days so that the exchange, refund, or credit transaction can be arranged to your satisfaction.

I was very disappointed with these rubbing plates. First it was difficult to tell which was the 'right' side. Made first rubbing and it had no texture. Finally realized I had the wrong side. I was using these with fabric and the results were not what I was hoping for. Maybe a different medium would give better results, such as clay.

I am going to use them with polymer clay. I bought the cultural pattern set and love the designs. My only complaint would be a small thing--that the designs on the Egyptian plate are different from the ones shown on the picture on the package, which I happened to be interested in.

These plates are of clear plastic and somewhat flexible. Using both sides, I will be able to take both positive and negative impressions. I foresee that the original plates may not last too long if I use them a lot, so I plan to take (and bake) clay impressions of both sides and then I will have them permanently. I read (in a book on polymer clay) about doing this even with rubber stamps/texture plates, and think it is a good precaution for anyone to take.

On the whole, the designs are very nice, and I am pleased that there are so many plates (6) to a set. I am guessing that if they had been made of rubber, there would not have been so many, or else the price would have had to be a lot higher, limiting the number I could buy. This set was a bargain at the price, and I will be buying more of these plates--maybe the architectural set next.

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